The agreement also marks Foxwoods’ first foray into real-money online gambling in the US.

“We are thrilled to partner with PariPlay and leverage their world class interactive gaming platform to lay the groundwork for our entry into the USA’s iGaming market,” said Foxwoods Director of Online Gaming SethYoung in the release.

Young went on to discuss the numerous opportunities the agreement presents:

“The PariPlay on-premises solution is an exciting new amenity that will allow our guests to game anywhere that is legally permissible, and will allow us to prepare for broader opportunities outside of the four walls of the physical property.

“Developing an interactive gaming program is the next step in Foxwoods’ commitment to providing an ever-expanding range of amenities to match the changing needs of our guests, and to continue to be first-to-market with unique experiences for visitors.

“It is also an excellent new business opportunity for this organization, and by proxy the state of Connecticut, as iGaming has demonstrated its ability to both drive new revenues and augment the operations at brick-and-mortar facilities. This is a major step forward for Foxwoods, one of the USA’s leading gaming and entertainment brands.”

The immediate impact

As the press release notes, Foxwoods’ ability to offer real-money, on-premise online gambling lacks legal clarity at the moment. But with the deal in place, it’s safe to assume the tribe has affirmative legal opinions.

As such, Foxwoods could soon be offering real-money online games to guests on property. Furthermore, the deal with PariPlay could lead to on-premise online sports betting at Foxwoods.

The crafting of regulations by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protections.

Opportunities beyond the four walls of the casino?

Based on Young’s statement in the press release, Foxwoods and PariPlay might have bigger aspirations than the on-premise real-money gaming opportunities.

The two parts that really stick out on this front are:

“The Pariplay on-premises solution is an exciting new amenity that will allow our guests to game anywhere that is legally permissible, and will allow us to prepare for broader opportunities outside of the four walls of the physical property.”

“It is also an excellent new business opportunity for this organization, and by proxy the state of Connecticut, as iGaming has demonstrated its ability to both drive new revenues and augment the operations at brick-and-mortar facilities.”

If we read between the lines, Foxwoods could very well be lobbying the state to legalize online gambling.

Does Connecticut have what it takes?

Connecticut is a solid candidate for online gambling. As regional competition heats up, the state has been looking at multiple ways to bolster revenues at its two tribal casinos.

Finalizing the sports betting legislation is one of the first things the legislature is hoping to tackle in 2018, according to House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz.

“I would like it to be one of the first bills voted out of committee and I would like for the General Assembly to act on it quickly after that,” said Aresimowicz of sports betting back in January. “It’s another area where if we don’t act, I’m sure neighboring states and other areas will.”

The same train of thought applies to online gambling. Namely, there’s an opportunity for online gambling to piggyback on sports betting. That’s especially true if the state throws online sports betting into the mix.

What about Mohegan Sun?

This is not a solo production by Foxwoods. It’s one of two gaming stakeholders in Connecticut, Mohegan Sun being the other. For online gambling to pass, two must tango.

The good news is Foxwoods likely has a willing dance partner. Mohegan Sun is already a player in legal online gambling in the US.

The tribe runs ResortsCasino in Atlantic City and launched the MoheganSunCasino.com real-money NJ online casino in conjunction with Resorts and its online casino partner, NYX Gaming.

Sign Up For The Grove Report – US Online Gambling Industry Insights
Delivered To Your Inbox:

Steve Ruddock -
Steve covers nearly every angle of online poker in his job as a full-time freelance poker writer. His primary focus for OPR is the developing legal and legislative picture for regulated US online poker and gambling.